Ï One of the sightseeing of Ashgabat and attraction place of young naturalists is National Museum of Wildlife
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One of the sightseeing of Ashgabat and attraction place of young naturalists is National Museum of Wildlife

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There are more than 250 species of wild carnivores, birds and reptiles, the representatives of the underwater world, many of which are listed in the Red Book, as well as all kinds of fauna of Turkmenistan.

This year there has been refilled one more family couple of Zoological Park: a happy couple of Australian ostriches who recently nested 7 remarkable ostrich chicks. Today, chickens grew up to 70 centimeters, they look almost adults, but the spontaneity and curiosity showed their early ages. The ostrich father looks after them, and the mother teaches the rules of conduct. It is a family idyll.


An ostrich is the largest bird of the existing. The height of the African ostrich reaches 2, 44 meters, weight up to136 kilogram. However, Australian ostrich are much smaller. Due to the heavy weight they ceased to fly long time back, but run to 70 kilometers per hour quicker than that a motor driving in the city roads.

Their romantic relations of the couple began last fall. Future mom and dad hatched the eggs by turns. In 45 days at end of January a blue shell eggs started to crack, and began to appear alive gray chickens.


It is only at first glance it seems that ostriches mixed up the calendar timing. If in Australian summer, we have the winter and vice versa. So according to the genetic memory the Australian ostriches occurred in time.

With the appearance of breeds, the parental instinct affected to the behavior of the ostrich-father who are jealously guarding ostrich chicks from the attention of other ostriches in the open air cage. Then, it was decided to move the family into a separate enclosure. But now, seeing the curious glances of neighbors’ glances at ostrich chicks, the father ostrich either puts aside their young chicks or covers by himself. The caretakers noticed that one of the adjacent pairs was very often looking at the chicks. It is likelihood that in the late autumn and they will also have relationship.


In nature, the Australian ostriches Emu get along well with kangaroos. Such neighborhood on hand kangaroos as ostriches have excellent eye-sights, they first discover the danger and act as watchmen. There is belief that the ostrich is a coward bird, which is greatly exaggerated. It is a false widespread belief that in an emergency case the ostrich buries one’s head in the sand. Ostrich have very strong legs, and if it is not possible to escape by running, one can fall to the ground, and defended oneself. And the kicking motion is not in the side, not back, only forward. Thus, this bird can be called a record breaker for a non-standard behavioral nuance.

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The terrarium of Museum of Wildlife gray lizards live with the neighborhood of poisonous snakes - viper, cobra, large land tortoises, turtles, and other common reptiles. Visitors entering the hall see the twilight, because mostly in their life, these reptiles are carried out in slumber. "Sleepy kingdom" is definitely more suited to this corner of the Museum of Wildlife. Of course, to be the caretaker of predators or monkeys is much more interesting would say amateurs. But the superintendent Mekan Kulniyazov thinks differently: the best are his pets!


Take the female and the male reticulated pythons. These giant snakes in size and weight are very different from each other. Despite the fact that they are the same age, the female weighs 23 kilograms and the male - 10, which is almost 2.5 times less. And this is just the intermediate indicators because females of the python reach 70 kilos. And what are their beautiful scales, if it has created a skilled jeweler! A viper differs in size between the male and female pythons are right, the males are larger than females. Despite the thick, seemingly clumsy body of viper is able to make rapid shots for prey.


Yet, several lizards look nice for Mekan. Their biggest relatives that live on the islands of the Malay Archipelago reach a length of 4 meters. Imagination draws these reptiles of such proportions as monsters. Compared with them, our lizards have length of the tail of 60-70 cm which are quite not spooky but are cute. The Central Asian gray lizards reach 1.5-1.6 meters.

The first thing in every morning, Mekan turn on the electric lamp gets incandescence, the light dim, but still creates an illusion of daylight, which is very important for the pets’ psychological balance. Before leaving home Mekan turn off the light and the night falls on pets. The duties of the caretaker include clean cages, change the water in the drinkers, feed the animals, keep an eye on their health, mood, and if necessary call the vet.


Once careless moth flew in the open air cage, it unimaginably happened. The slow-moving monitor lizard suddenly woke the instinct of hunter who showed lightning agility and unwary moth was caught and eaten in the blink of an eye. This fact made a huge impression to the caretaker. Mekan realized that he had had taken a liking to the favorite pets.

The working day for caretakers ends at 6 pm. However, they will not do in order to win the hearts of friends: Mekan decides to leave work with the technical staff engaged in cleaning of the territory and other economic affairs up to 9 hours.


As soon as it got dusk, lights were lit throughout the Wildlife Museum. With a net in the hands of Mekan he climbed upto the ladder. With the agile hand it was caught a treat for lizards.

Mekan stuck the net to the contact box of the open-air cage, and insects flew in different directions. What happened then! The insects’ hunter were four neighbor monitor lizard. They jumped, raising clouds of dust. Within seconds, all the insects were caught. After the feast, the lizards have gotten to the regular sleeping state.


- We appreciate the attentiveness of our staff in caring for pets, - says head of department of science and breeding Durdymurat Godek. - According to our rules, the new employee before becoming superintendent and enters the department should take care for territory. Then only if one is well established can be transferred to the position as an assistant superintendent, and only the most responsible and caring become caretakers. Mekan Kulniyazov has a diary of observations of reptiles, showing extraordinary potentialities as naturalist. Zeal of Mecan gone unnoticed by the leadership of the Museum, he recently was promoted to the post as an instructor.